Charles n



(NO Model.)

0. N. LEONARD.

PORTFOLIO.

NO. 471,390. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT EETcE.

CHARLES N. LEONARD, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE DRAKE &; VOOD COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTFOLIO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,390, dated March 22, 1892.

Application filed March 17,1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES N. LEONARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis,in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portfolios, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relatesto an improved construction in portfolios for receiving music, papers, drawings, pictures, and such like articles, which are usually in sheet form, whereby the sheets may be held in a fiat and smooth condition when stowed therein whether a few sheets be contained in the portfolio or many, which construction provides easy and convenient access to the receptacle when desired and means by which it may be kept closed when not in use, the top of said portfolio being also so formed as to serve as a center-table or stand, thus adapting the article for adouble use, while occupying only such space as is usually occupied by a stand or center-table alone, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is aperspective view of one of my improved portfolios, the receptacle being shown tilted to one side to permit access thereto; Fig. 2, a cross-section showing the receptacle in the closed position; Fig. 3, a detail perspective View of one of the hinged partitions of the receptacle; and Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a modified construction.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the frame-work or stand, and B the receptacle.

' The stand A is not dissimilar in construction from many stands or center-tables in common use, the ends being so formed either by arranging the legs in the form of a cross, as shown in the drawings, or in any other suitable manner to aiford a bearing for the pivots or hinges upon which the receptacle is mounted. It will be understood, of course, that said frame or stand may be constructed in any manner desired and used as an ornamental center-table, card-table, book-rack, or

Serial No. 3 85 36 3. (No model.)

any other article to the use of which it can be adapted.

The receptacle B is trough-shaped, preferably narrow at its bottom and wide at its top, its top width being just sufficient so that its top edges will register with the lower edges of the side pieces of the frame which supports the table-top. It is mounted between the ends of the stand on pivots or hinges b, said pivots being provided with suitable bearings in each end of the frame-work, as shown. On each side is provided a spring-latch 1;, adapted to engage with a catch a on each side of the stand. Said catch a is shown as a plate mounted over a recess cut in the edge of the piece to which it is secured, which permits said latch to pass toward the center of the structure when the receptacle is tilted. A bar B extends longitudinally of said receptacle, being secured to its ends in its center at its top, and has downwardly-extending partitions B hinged to its opposite sides, which partitions are held apart at their lower edges by means of a spring b interposed between them and so arranged as to normally force them apart. A spring-wire frame B of the form shown in Fig. 3, is also mounted on the outer face of each of said partitions and is adapted to press the sheets against the sides of the receptacle, thus holding them smooth and straight. Extending up from the top of the central bar B is a pin (one or more, as preferred) b adapted to strike the inner face of the side rail of the table-frame when the receptacle is. tilted to one side or other and limit its movement, as shown in Figs. 1 and t.

In Fig. 4, in lieu of the partitions 13 I have shown two spring-wire frames or partitions of a form similar to the frame 13 as shown in Fig. 3, which, as will be readily understood, will operate in the same manner as do the partitions shown in Fig. 2, provided with the springs, although not being of a form cal= culated to hold the music or other articles so firmly in place.

In operation the sheets are placed in the receptacle between the sides thereof and the spring-partitions, where they are securely clamped and pressed together and held in a flat and smooth condition at all times. When ac- 'neath the catch a, as before described.

cess is desired to oneside or the other of the portfolio, the spring-latch b of the side to be used is released from the catch a and the receptacle tilted on its pivots until the stop 12 strikes the side piece of the table, which thus holds the receptacle in the position most convenient for access. \V hen the receptacle is tilted in one direction, the latch 12 on the opposite side passes through the recess in the sidepiece be- The sheets being slid in under the springs, the lower edges of the partitions are forced tightly against the lower edges of the sheets and the spring-frames on the sides of the partitions press firmly against the sides of the sheets. By this construction, as will be readily seen, many sheets or only a few are held in place in the receptacle in the same manner and with equal firmness.

As will be readily understood, the operation of the construction shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that shown in the other figures of the drawings and could be used without departing from my invention, as could other modifications of the form shown in Fig. .2 which will readily suggest themselves, my invention consisting, broadly speaking, in providing the stand with the swinging receptacle having the spring-mounted parts arranged to clamp and hold the sheets therein, substantially as described.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a portfolio, of a stand having a closed top, end supports or legs therefor, a receptacle consisting of aunitarystructure pivoted between said end supports on pivots located centrally betweenits sides, whereby said receptacle can be swung out in either direction, the sides of said receptacles being arranged to register with the under side of the top structure when in its closed position, and stops for limiting the outward movement of said receptacle, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a portfolio, of' the stand, the receptacle pivoted betweenits ends and beneath its top and formed with a central bar extending longitudinally of its top, partitions or frames hinged to the sides thereof and extending to near the bottom of said receptacle, the spring interposed between said partitions near theirlower edges and adapted to force them apart, and another spring secured to the outer surface of each of said partitions and adapted to press outwardly against the sheets placed between them and the sides of said receptacle, substantially as set forth.

The combination, in a portfolio, of the stand, the receptacle pivoted beneath the top thereof, the sides of which are arranged to register with the under side of said top when in its closed position, provided with the central bar, the spring-actuated frames or partitions extending down from said bar, catches secured to the sides of said receptacle and arranged to engage with the side pieces of said stand, and stops for limiting the movement of said receptacle, located thereon intermediate of its sides, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 12th day of March, A. D. 1891. 

